Facade Update
On September 18th, 2025, we obtained a cost estimate from Adam Blake of Cost Bidding, a professional cost estimator based in Brooklyn, New York, for the remaining phases of the facade work. Notably, this is something which the current Board never did before levying the $6.3 million Special Assessment.
Excerpt From Reliable Engineering Letter Dated April 20, 2025
We have had our independent estimate reviewed by William R. Hawkins, an experienced architect who is also a former cost estimator for large-scale commercial construction. The estimate came out to approximately $2.2 million. This confirms what many of us have believed all along: The Special Assessment was based on cost projections that represent as much as twice what the remaining phases of work should cost. Please see below for the full cost estimate. Please note: We have received feedback that some of the below screenshots are difficult to read on the mobile version of the website. We are working to resolve this. In the meantime, you can download an Excel file with the full estimate by pressing the button below.
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This estimate is not far off from the lowest bid that Structural Rehabilitation Group obtained two years ago for the "Phase II" facade work, which included all of the current remaining work plus facade work on Tier 11. That lowest bid came out to approximately $2.8 million.
Bids Obtained by Structural Rehabilitation Group in 2023 as Detailed in Letter Dated October 3, 2023
Based on a later change order, the Tier 11 facade work was added to the work currently being done at a cost of approximately $300,000. If we subtract this amount from the previous bid of $2.8 million, this previous bid would indicate a cost for the work remaining of approximately $2.5 million, very close to the approximate $2.2 million that our cost estimator has estimated. Please bear in mind that our cost estimator specializes in providing estimates for contractors to establish a low baseline bid amount and that their estimate includes only a 10 percent margin for profit. Therefore, this estimate represents the very low end of actual bids we might be able to obtain. On Oct. 2nd, 2025, the Board announced that it would be moving forward with a contract for the remaining facade work at a cost of approximately $2.4 million and that based on this bid amount it would be reducing the Special Assessment by approximately 40%. In defense of its levy of the original Special Assessment, the Board insisted that it used the best data available at the time. The truth is that the Board ignored and failed to seek out better data, by disregarding the earlier bids and declining to engage a professional cost estimator. Explore the rest of this website for additional information on HOA spending and what you can do to help replace the Board.